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Tuesday, 5 July 2011
Garrett Styles, It's What He Left Behind

I watched the funeral of Garrett Styles on TV today. Part of the tragedy of his death was that his two kids (one six months, the other two and half years) will never know him.

There were at least 7000 officers from all over North America who attended the funeral. 

The most moving part of this event was his wife's eulogy.

John McDermott sang "You Raised Me Up" and the bagpipes played "Amazing Grace" at the end of the service. Somehow music expresses more about a person's life than speeches do.

In the words of Randy Travis in the song "Three Wooden Crosses", "It's not what you take when you leave this world behind you. It's what you leave behind you when you go".


Posted by qualteam at 10:57 PM EDT
Updated: Tuesday, 5 July 2011 11:25 PM EDT
Sunday, 3 July 2011
Top Ten Things I Like About Canada


1. Like Victoria Day,Canada Day is another 2-4 weekend. As you can see from the faces of Bob and Ted Mackenzie, the "Great White North" can be a source of endless laughs. Can you imagine anyone wearing a tuque with earmuffs and drinking a stubby in a TV studio? Canadian humor heads the list. Check out these videos with William Shatnerbeavers and Molson's Canadian Beer . Even Newfoundlanders have their own funny sayings. We can be party dudes except if you're a Vancouver Canuck fan 2011.

2. The Canadian Banking System is the best in the world. No one would be happy if our banks were failing and needed to be bailed out by the Canadian Government. That would be more debt for Canadians to pay back.

3. Canada is offically a multicultural country. This was written into our constitution by Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau in 1981. Since our country's beginning, Canada has been a refuge for oppressed immigrants like the Irish in the 1800s and southern blacks before the civil war. Millions of immigrants from the world over have found a better life in Canada.

3. Canadians are close to nature's wilderness and I think it gives us a certain undefined spirituality like Canada's native peoples. You can find natural wonders in any part of Canada like Northern Ontario, Newfoundland or British Columbia. Writer Pierre Burton was fascinated by Canada's past and its great outdoors. He wrote over 40 books about these subjects.

4. Canadian artists: This isn't just about painters like "The Group of Seven". It's about Canadian artists from any discipline like naturalist Robert Bateman, cartoonist Lynn Johnson, writer Margret Atwood, poet Leonard Cohen, folk singer/writer Gordon Lightfoot, and country writer/performer, Shania Twain. These are just some of my personal favourites. I'm sure you like many Canadian artists as well.

5. The Highway of Heroes: I appreciate the respect that Canadians give to those who put their life on the line for their community and country. This includes police officers like Garret Syles who died in the line of duty.

6. Canadian Heath Care System: It's not perfect, but it's free for the poor as well as the rich. Also, it costs less to deliver per capita than the private U.S. Health System. Tommy Douglas (Saskatchewan premier) was the architect of our health system. He was never prime minister, but he was voted by CBC viewers as the greatest Canadian of all time.

7. Gun Control in Canada: While many Canadian do like hunting moose, there are strict regulations on carrying hand guns. We don't have to worry about prying guns from Canadians' cold dead hands, because not  many citizens have guns.

8. Loyal Maple Leaf Fans: It's been 44 years since the Toronto Maple Leafs last won the Stanley Cup. Leafs' hockey games, however, keep selling out even with bad teams. You're only a loser if you give up, but Leaf fans will never do that. Once a Leaf fan always a Leaf fan. I should know, I'm one.

9. Lester B. Pearson: He's probably the most underrated Prime Minister in the history of Canada. Yet, his record speaks for himself. With only a minority Government, he passed universal health care, The Canada Pension Plan, student loans and the Canadian Flag. Two thumbs up, Mike.

10. The 2010 Winter Olympics: Every Canadian remembers Sidney Crosby's winning goal in the gold medal game with the U.S. Team. This was great, but the whole Canadian Olympic team delivered a stellar effort on home turf for the fans. A record 14 gold medals were won by the host country. This was "One Moment in Time", we will never forget.

 


Posted by qualteam at 2:07 PM EDT
Updated: Sunday, 3 July 2011 5:13 PM EDT
Monday, 27 June 2011
Do You Remember The Postal Strike Of 2011?


I'm not a big fan of The Canadian Union of Postal Workers (I have a  website dedicated to my time as member over the last 35 years.) However, I do admit that they were unfairly treated by the Conservative Government with back-to-work legislation.

Instead of the usual "Mediation/Arbitration Back-to-Work Legislation", the posties were treated with a "Final Offer Arbitration With a Wage Rollback Back-to-Work Legislation". This is more or less a dictation of surrender terms from a government with a big fat majority. 

There was no chance of a negotiated settlement with a 3.2 billion dollar pension liability hanging over Canada Post's head. Canada Post is required by federal legislation to keep "The Canada Post Pension Plan" fully funded.

CUPW's best bet would have been mediation/arbitration.

The posties are back to work now and I'm happy that I retired from the Post Office when I did.

Postal Workers still have steady well paying jobs with job security and lots of vacation time.

 


Posted by qualteam at 11:22 PM EDT
Updated: Thursday, 30 June 2011 11:13 AM EDT
Thursday, 23 June 2011
Affordable Renovations And Landscaping Made Easy In Ontario

The above picture shows some of the latest improvements that we made to our backyard. The fence is new and so is the retaining wall around the garden. Both the fence and stone were purchased at a bargain price. The labour was done mostly by my step son, Leslie Sparkes who lives with us.

Leslie is a Newfie and while Newfies may be the target of Newfie jokes, they know how to do renovations and landscaping. From my personal experience, I've found that most Newfoundland tradesmen did a good job in our house or around our property.

I've also been fortunate to know a well off postie who has a big house by a lake in Parry Sound. It was a soggy spring, but I brightened it up with trip to Muskoka. Here are some of the pictures.  

My buddy (Tony) built his dream house on Lake Portage. My wife and I can visit him anytime.

I hope you have a fun summer filled with affordable vacations, cheap renovations and exciting landscaping.


 


Posted by qualteam at 2:43 PM EDT
Updated: Saturday, 25 June 2011 11:33 PM EDT
Monday, 20 June 2011
Dental Health Can Help Mental Health

This is my first blog entry on dental health. I've been lax in this area because I don't floss my teeth regularly. I brush them regularly, but a long time ago, I substituted tooth picks for floss and that wasn't good.

I liked the idea of "mental floss" rather than dental floss, because I could imagine I was using it without the time and aggravation of actually using it.

Well, I paid for my "mental flossing" over the last few years by maxing out on my dental plan. Yes, "The One Thousand Dollar Basic Dentristy Limit"  was gone with three appointments.

Going to the dentist hurts. It hurts mostly in the pocket book.

It's a common fact that poor dental health can be linked to some cancers and heart disease.

Proper dental health might include a water pik as well as floss and a rotating tooth brush.

Last but least, find a good dentist to work on your teeth. Someone who isn't trying to sell you "implants" and expensive dental work. Therefore, I recommend my dentist, Dr. Robert Axelrad who is excellent at repairing and fixing up your own teeth.

Comprehensive dental hygiene has to be included with exercise, diet, and saunas for overall physical health. Human body parts and teeth require heavy maintenance. It's time for all of us to realize that.

 


Posted by qualteam at 12:57 PM EDT
Updated: Monday, 20 June 2011 1:33 PM EDT
Wednesday, 15 June 2011
Vancouver Canucks: Heroes Or Bums???

Tonight is the seventh game of "The Stanley Cup Final". The Boston Bruins have ouplayed Vancouver by a mile. Vancouver has only scored 8 goals in six games while Boston has scored 19 (17 at home). The biggest knock against the Canucks isn't that they've lost three games. They were blown out in all those games.

This shouldn't happen in payoff hockey.

If Vancouver loses tonight, they'll only be remembered as the team that gave up on Boston ice. Playoff bums who didn't deserve to win despite their great season record (Numer one in the NHL).

Despite being a Toronto Maple Leaf fan, I'm cheering for Vancouver tonight because I'm tired of Boston bragging about their championship teams (The Red Sox, The Celtics, The Patriots).

The Blue Jays were blown out of the Rogers Centre by the Red Sox in three laughers (5-1, 16-4 and 14-1). It's time for a little revenge.

I think that Vancouver is the underdog despite the fact that it's a home game and Vancouver hasn't lost at home. The Canucks will either walk away as heroes or chokers. They have lots to prove to their fans and Canadians everywhere.

Boston has nothing to prove because they've already played better than expected.

Here are some powerful words that will go down in the history of embarrassing losses: Canucks goalie Roberto Luongo tapped a reporter on the shoulder and asked, "You still believe in me, right? The Bruins beat the Canucks 4 to 0 to win the Stanley Cup.

P.S. As a retired postal worker, I put my views on the present CUPW/Canada Post strike on this website at www.cupw.info.

 


Posted by qualteam at 11:27 AM EDT
Updated: Wednesday, 15 June 2011 11:15 PM EDT
Friday, 10 June 2011
I Don't Know If The Glass Is Half Empty Or Half Full


A woman and a man are involved in a car accident on a snowy, cold Monday morning; it's a bad one. Both of their cars are totally demolished, but amazingly neither of them is hurt. God works in mysterious ways.

After they crawl out of their cars, the man is yelling about women drivers. The woman says, 'So, you're a man. That's interesting. I'm a woman. Wow, just look at our cars! There's nothing left, but we're unhurt. This must be a sign from God that we should be friends and live in peace for the rest of our days.'

Flattered, the man replies, 'Oh yes, I agree completely, this must be a sign from God! But you're still at fault...women shouldn't be allowed to drive.'

The woman continues, 'And look at this, here's another miracle. My car is completely demolished but this bottle of wine didn't break. Surely, God wants us to drink this wine and celebrate our good fortune. She hands the bottle to the man.

The man nods his head in agreement, opens it and drinks half the bottle and then hands it back to the woman. The woman takes the bottle, puts the cap back on and hands it back to the man.The man asks, 'Aren't you having any?' The woman replies, 'No. I think I'll just wait for the police...'

MORAL OF THE STORY:
Some Women are clever babes.
Don't mess with them.

Buddy's theme song (Bottle of Wine) after this incident.


Posted by qualteam at 5:02 PM EDT
Updated: Friday, 10 June 2011 5:13 PM EDT
Wednesday, 8 June 2011
davebarron.info: Connecting My Facebook And Twitter Pages


 

Domain names are a great way to remember and navigate to websites of interest. Even this blog has a domain name:http://barronblog.com.

Recently, I started a twitter account and the tweets go both to my Facebook page and my Blog page. My Facebook page also has family and vacation pictures that I've taken. To make it easier for visitors, friends and family to access my Facebook Homepage, I've created a new Domain Address:davebarron.info. Tweets, facebook entries, pictures, and wall comments by friends and family are found there.

You can use other domain addresses to gain access to my websites at Hotel California(www.log-line.com), Gehenna(www.hellfun.info) and Katimavik(www.katimavik.info). 

I used Godaddy.com to register my domain addresses because they are cheap and efficient.


Posted by qualteam at 10:07 AM EDT
Updated: Wednesday, 8 June 2011 10:31 AM EDT
Monday, 6 June 2011
Remembering The Fight For Freedom And Democracy In Different Countries

The Jasmine flowers above have become the symbol of the freedom and democracy movement in The Middle East and China.

On June/04/11, in a Hong Kong park, they were handed out to those who remembered the Tiananmen Square massacre in China. As well as the flowers, buttons and T-shirts of Ai Weiwei and Liu Xiaobo were distributed to the protesters. Both Weiwei and Xiaobo are in prison for promoting political views that were and still are objectionable to the Chinese Government. It should be noted that news of this event was blocked from mainland China.

In the history of mankind, the fight for freedom and democracy has often been accompanied by war and death. The poem "In Flanders Fields" could apply to all those who have been martyred for the cause of freedom.

Also, the beginning of June is the anniversary of the D-Day Invasion that was the beginning of the end for Hitler and the Nazis. Many thousands died that day including soldiers from Canada.

Oppressors want individuals controlled and under their thumbs. That is why it is often necessary to fight and, perhaps, die for the ideals of democracy and human rights. Those who fall will always be remembered as heroes by those who remain.


Posted by qualteam at 6:57 PM EDT
Updated: Monday, 6 June 2011 11:16 PM EDT
Tuesday, 31 May 2011
Music For Inspiration, Peace, Romance and Laughs

From the above picture, you might think that this blog is a disguised entry for "Relaxation Music". That isn't true.

There is music which can enhance different mental faculties, but this entry doesn't contain that type of music.

Basically, I'm just offering songs that will fit the title above. The songs are on different webpages with different "internet-players". A few have links to YouTube tunes, but most are constructed to send you to another place and time. Hopefully, you'll get visions of "Graceworld" which I believe started rock and roll hundreds or even millions of years ago. You don't have to believe in that. 

I hope this material connects with you on a heavenly level where  dreams can come true.

Please enjoy the music that I've enjoyed for many years. Some of the songs may be rare, but they were written with young people in mind. 

  1. With the right kind of music, Christmas can be a season for laughs as well as for gifts and Santa Claus. 
  2. Please enjoy some of my top "Novelty Songs" in Cartoonworld. Where everyday is a weird and wonderful day. 
  3. Don't most of us want to be inspired to make the world a better place? It helps when you listen to music that can motivate you.
  4. Romance fires our imaginations and make our hearts beat faster, but certain music develops the romantic side of our nature.
  5. Sometimes, you have to search out for hidden gems that DJs just don't play on the radio anymore. Here's ten of them on this website.
  6. Stuff like that could produce download mania. Here's some more tunes for your IPOD.
  7. Listening to great music makes you appreciate the finer things of life like love, dancing, laughs and charity. By this time, you could be a peace protestor or a political left-winger.

It took many years to compile the playlists for the songs that are linked to this entry. Your feedback would be appreciated.


Posted by qualteam at 10:29 PM EDT
Updated: Tuesday, 31 May 2011 10:44 PM EDT

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